Traditional retention tactics like push notifications, loyalty programs, and onboarding tours all have their place. But if you're serious about building long-term relationships with your users, it’s time to think differently.
Here are some unconventional, creative, and underused strategies for improving mobile app user retention — the kind of ideas that help you stand out in a sea of sameness.
Retention isn't just a marketing function — it's a product design principle. If your app doesn't give users a reason to come back, no amount of email nudges will fix it.
Outside-the-box
angle:
Use habit
loops in
your design. This is the “hook” model:
Trigger (e.g. notification or need),
Action (user engages),
Reward (something satisfying or useful),
Investment (user adds value or content, which makes them more likely to return).
Example: Allow users to track something over time — progress, savings, goals, habits — and visually show it grow. People return to things they’ve invested in.
Not every app can be a social network, but almost every app can include some form of social connection — even if it’s just passive.
Outside-the-box
angle:
Create micro-communities
or shared experiences within
your app:
Let users follow others with similar goals (e.g. in fitness or shopping habits).
Show trending activity from similar users (e.g. “Popular in your town”).
Add a discussion thread or Q&A section tied to specific content.
When people feel a part of something — even a small or niche group — they come back.
Most loyalty schemes are predictable. But what if you rewarded users for things they didn’t expect to be valuable?
Outside-the-box
angle:
Introduce “easter
egg” rewards or
hidden achievements.
Examples:
Give a badge or points for using the app at unusual hours (e.g. “Night Owl Award”).
Surprise a user after 10 visits without making a purchase.
Send a thank-you message when they refer a friend — even if it doesn’t lead to a download.
Surprise creates delight. Delight drives retention.
Push notifications are often generic. But the most effective ones are tied to the user’s real-world context.
Outside-the-box
angle:
Use
location, weather, time of day, or even calendar integrations to send
ultra-relevant prompts.
A retail app might send a reminder on rainy days for waterproof gear.
A fitness app could nudge users after detecting they’ve been at the gym.
A booking app could sync with Google Calendar and prompt re-bookings.
This kind of intelligent, contextual messaging doesn’t feel like marketing — it feels like help.
Many apps treat every user the same, no matter how long they’ve been using it. But what if your app adapted based on a user's journey?
Outside-the-box
angle:
Introduce “user
levels” or
adaptive interfaces:
Beginner users get guided walkthroughs and tips.
Returning users see advanced features and shortcuts.
Power users unlock customizations or hidden tools.
When users feel the app is growing with them — not just existing beside them — they stay longer.
Even non-social apps can benefit from user-generated content. When people contribute to something, they feel more connected to it.
Outside-the-box
angle:
Let
users personalise part of the app or contribute in small ways:
Reviews, wishlists, ratings, notes, or even public tips.
Let them name saved items, set goals, or mark progress visually.
Use that input to surface new recommendations and keep them engaged.
Participation builds ownership. Ownership builds retention.
Retention isn’t just about reminders or rewards — it’s about making users feel something: valued, understood, connected, curious, or proud.
While traditional tactics help set the foundation, it’s the creative, human-centred ideas that build long-term stickiness.
At Apparati, we help businesses move beyond cookie-cutter strategies and build mobile app experiences that people actually want to return to. If you're ready to rethink your approach to retention, we’d love to help.
Let’s chat about building an app that doesn’t just get downloaded — it gets used.
July 07, 2025 - BY Admin